T H E D E S E R T T R A I LA S S O C I A T I O N
C A L I F O R N I A C H A P T E R
The Desert Trail is an organization, founded in Burns, Oregon, devoted to the establishment of the first national trail planned from its inception to traverse from Canada to Mexico exploring the western deserts. From border to border, the proposed trail will pass volcanic craters, wander along streams, climb mountains, hesitate at old mining camps and cover several distinct life zones. The hiker or horseman will be able to sample the beauty of the Great Basin desert, the Mojave desert, the Colorado desert and the Sonoran desert.
Sections of this trail will be open and usable year round. Alternate routes and feeder trails will make it feasible to hike even the famed Death Valley in the summertime.
In California the Desert Trail, as presently envisioned, will pass through fascinating areas where unexpected treasures connect like beads of silver and turquoise. The wanderer will be able to explore the rare treasures of desert beauty often touching historical sites, ancient Indian rock art, palmed canyons, rugged peaks and smooth sands.
Sufficient water supply and very primitive campsites are top priority. Watering holes of wildlife will be avoided and care taken in preventing damage to any site be it historical, geological or archeological.
HELP YOURSELF AND OTHERS ENJOY THE DESERT TRAIL........
The prime purpose of the Desert Trail is to promote the preservation and protection of the natural environment, wilderness1 wildlife and scenic qualities of the desert. Hopefully a love and protective attitude toward this most fragile desert will be fostered by the closeness possible only by trail contact.
The Desert Trail concept has been endorsed by many organizations. The first to lend active assistance in California is The Desert Protective Council. They have been joined by several Sierra Club groups, the Audubon Society, Wilderness organizations, the Death Valley Hikers Association and recognized by the International Backpackers.
As most of the trail will go through land already set aside for the public use there has been unofficial acceptance by the Bureau of Land Management, Death Valley National Monument, Joshua Tree National Monument and Anza-Borrego State Park.
Active, interested members are needed to support and assist in creatively promoting the concept and founding of the Desert Trail. With more and more mountaineers seeking the desert terrain we hope to use their knowledge and share ours in establishing a trail that avoids the pitfalls older hiking routes have suffered.
WON'T YOU HELP US HELP YOU?